Discover the Swiss Adventure Capital of Interlaken
Situated in the beautiful and sleepy surroundings of the Swiss countryside, Interlaken appears at first glance to be no more than a pretty town in the Swiss Alps.
However, appearances can be deceptive. Interlaken is actually the adventure capital of Switzerland and Europe and housands of travelers with a thirst for adventure flock to the pretty alpine resort every year to try a whole host of death-defying, adrenalin fuelled sports and activities and to take advantage of some of the most spectacular ski runs in the Alps.
With so much to see and do in Interlaken, it can be difficult to know where to start when you come to visit, especially if you have a limited time frame or limited budget. So, we’ve compiled an Interlaken activities guide to help you get the most out of your Interlaken trip.
Having somewhere nice to stay is also important, especially if you’re planning an action-packed adventure holiday. With that in mind, we’ve also picked out a few Interlaken hostels and budget hotels to help you out when it comes to booking your accommodation.
Interlaken Adventure Sports
Interlaken is as close to heaven as an outdoor and adventure sports enthusiast is ever likely to get on earth, as it has more adventure sports and activities than you can shake a stick at! Some of the sports on offer are sky diving, paragliding, hang gliding, bungee jumping, rafting and climbing.
Two of the more unusual sports available in Interlaken are zorbing and canyoning. Zorbing involves rolling down a hill in a giant ball (imagine doing somersaults in a giant hamster ball and you get a vague idea of the experience!) and only stops after rolling up a net at the bottom. Zorbing is a good option if you aren’t feeling all that adventurous.
Canyoning on the other hand is not for the feint hearted. Kitted out with no more than a wet suit, helmet and a lifejacket the concept is simple- you have to reach the bottom of a canyon by whatever means possible. You have to jump, climb, scramble and slide your way to the bottom.
It’s an exhilarating experience which starts early in the morning and incorporates taking in a canyon that suits your difficulty level. Schliere Canyon is the most extreme and by far the best. Whatever canyon difficulty level you choose, be sure to follow your guide’s instructions or else you run the risk of breaking something or worse getting washed down stream and over a waterfall!
Hang gliding is another less extreme option and, as the closest thing to flying, a fantastic experience. Hang Gliding Interlaken specializes in Tandem flights and caters for everybody’s tastes from thrill seekers who want to get the adrenalin pumping by doing a series of dives, stalls and wingovers to those of you who just want a smooth flight and the chance to take in the stunning scenery below.
Whatever adventure sport you want to try, you should make the Alpin Center in the center of town your starting point. The Alpin Center organizes everything for you including equipment hire and pick-up from your hostel accommodation.
Skiing in Interlaken
Interlaken first became popular amongst winter sport enthusiasts because of its great location, excellent hostels and cheap winter rates. Then The Jungfrau Top Ski Region opened, Interlaken gained access to some of the best ski slopes in Europe and it became a top ski destination. There are three ski resorts to choose from- Grindelwald, Mürren, and Wengen- all connected to Interlaken via cable cars and lifts. The resorts provide 213 kilometers of downhill trails between them. The average ski runs are between 6 and 12 kilometers (4 and 9 miles) in length, putting Interlaken’s pistes among the longest in Europe.
Every winter sport you could imagine is possible in Interlaken from skiing and snowboarding to ice skating and snowshoeing. If you get bored of the standard piste skiing more extreme options are available including heli-skiing and ice hiking.
Skiing can be an expensive business but you don’t have to break the bank in Interlaken. The mountain railway costs are incorporated into your ski pass which gives you access to all areas, meaning that you can ski in a different area for every day of the week.
Food prices in the mountain restaurants and cafés are not cheap- it is the mountains- but they aren’t extortionate either. If you’re really strapped for cash, then you can save money by buying your lunch from one of the smaller shops in Interlaken town before you head up to the resorts in the morning.
Interlaken sometimes struggles for snow cover at the beginning and end of the ski season so it is best to go during the season’s peak to ensure optimum conditions.
Walking & Hiking
Set at the foot of the Mönch & Jungfrau Mountains, in the beautiful surroundings of the Swiss countryside, Interlaken is a great place for hiking, walking and climbing. There are a plethora of well-marked trails and treks for walkers and climbers of all standards. The Jungfrau Plateau trails provide stunning views of the surrounding mountains, but the more intrepid amongst you will be drawn to the glacier hike at the top of Jungfrau Mountain. You have to take the train to get up there and can hike all the way to Moenchsjochhuette. This is not for the feint hearted but is well worth the effort if you have the energy and the heart!
The easier walks can be found along the paved footpaths that line Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. While not containing the same thrill or difficulty level of some of the mountain hikes, walks around the lakes are no less beautiful and can be combined with trips to the surrounding towns.
Other attractions & activities
No matter how much of a thrill seeker you are, the chances are you won’t want to be doing adventure sports or hikes all of the time. Thankfully, there are plenty of things to do in Interlaken that don’t involve throwing yourself out of a plane or rolling down a hill in a giant ball like a day or half day excursion on the steamer cruise.
You can catch a boat to Brienz, a picturesque woodcarvers’ town, or head for Thun and take in its medieval castle. The Swiss Open-Air Museum at Ballenberg is also worth a look along with the lovely gardens around Schloss Oberhofen. The best thing about the cruises is that you can get on and off as and when you please so there is no pressure on you to move on if you’re enjoying a particular place.
Another option is to take a trip to the top of Jungfraujoch on the Jungfraubahn railway. Jungfraujoch Station at the top is the highest train station in Europe and is built inside the mountain so that the trains can run throughout the year regardless of the weather. The fares are pretty pricey but well worth the money as the views from the Sphinx viewpoint- some 3571 meters up- are simply breathtaking.
There are a few restaurants at the top if you get hungry and there is even a cocktail lounge if you fancy a tipple before making the trip back down the mountain! If you get the opportunity, pick a day when the weather is good to make the most of the views of the lake and the valley below.
Carved inside the mountain is the Ice Palace- a large, cavernous area where everything is made of solid ice from the walls and corridors to the vast array of ice sculptures it has on display. It is quite slippery inside, so be careful when you go in and be sure to hold on to the hand-rails as you go! Although well worth a look it won’t take you too long to complete the circuit, and it is best to incorporate it with other activities. It’s a great activity to do when the weather outside is pretty grim and you don’t fancy spending time outdoors.
Accommodation
The last thing you want after a busy day’s activities is a cramped dorm with an uncomfortable bed. Fortunately, Interlaken has an abundance of great places to stay.
Rugenpark B&B offers clean and comfortable rooms with mountain views, cable TV, warm duvets and a hearty Swiss breakfast buffet. Facilities include free internet, guest kitchen, booking office for excursions and activities, English book exchange, free parking and free wireless LAN. It is recommended by 171 out of 174 guests who have left feedback and has private rooms available from just 27.24 Euros.
Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof is centrally located and offers free entry to swimming pools and mini golf, comfortable beds and duvets and a free breakfast as part of its price. There is a free fully equipped self-catering kitchen and hot showers on every floor. It is also highly recommended by customers on the HostelBookers website and has private and shared rooms available at similarly affordable prices.
If you’re after an Interlaken hotel rather than a hostel there are number of cheap options available including Hotel Lotschberg and Hotel Derby which both have rooms available for less than 45 Euros.
Check out the HostelBookers blog for a guide of the top 10 things to do in Interlaken.